Yeah, OK, I know that reporters are supposed to remain unbiased and not play favorites. But I love the Colorado Rockies, and have been a fan since the very first Opening Day.
My most prized possession is an Andres Galarraga jersey autographed by the Big Cat himself. And I have filled a curio cabinet in my home office with photos, ticket stubs, balls and caps signed by such other favorite players (past and present) as Vinny Castilla, Eric Young, Ellis Burks, Todd Helton, Terry Shumpert, Juan Pierre, Dante Bichette, Mike Lansing, Larry Walker and Brad Hawpe.
The best trip I take every year is to Tucson for a week at Spring Training.
So, yes, I am thrilled that the Rox have made it to the division playoffs. And I’m working furiously to figure out how to get a live feed from Game 3 to stream on my Treo.
Why not just watch it on TV? Because my job is to report not on baseball but on Denver’s charitable fundraisers, and there’s a ton of ’em Saturday night.
So if you’re not into baseball and wouldn’t mind doing some good for several worthy causes, here’s the lineup:
* SafeHouse Denver celebrates its 30th anniversary by staging a 1970s-style disco ball at the Westin Tabor Center. Cocktails are at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the presentation of awards to Steve Siegel of the Denver District Attorney’s office and the Junior League of Denver. Live auction items include a trip to Chicago for a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show and four nights at the Canyon Ranch Spa in Arizona. Call 303-302-6112.
* Cleo Parker Robinson Dance presents Cookin’ with Maya, Laughin’ with Sinbad and Dancin’ with Cleo — a 6 p.m. dinner, auction and program — at the Colorado Convention Center’s Four Seasons Ballroom. Roselyn Saunders is chairing the event; special guests are poet Maya Angelou and comedian Sinbad. Recipes from Angelou’s cookbook will be used for the desserts served after dinner. Radio personality Tamara Banks (Martini on the Rockies) emcees and Moment’s Notice provides the dance music. Call 303-295-1759.
* The first Dawn Denzer Community Leader Award will be presented to LaFawn Biddle during Costumes for a Cause, a fund-raiser for Colorado Neurological Institute that begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom. Tribute also will be paid to Gov. Bill Ritter and his wife, Jeannie. Chef Troy Guard is chairing the event with his wife, Leigh Sullivan Guard; he also created the evening’s menu. Guests are encouraged to come in costume, according to honorary chairwomen Bonnie Mandarich and Deana Perlmutter. CBS4’s Ed Greene is master of ceremonies. Call 303-806-7417.
* The University of Denver Bridge Project presents Patti LaBelle as the headliner for its 16th anniversary gala, a black-tie dinner and auction that begins at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center. Marie and Martin Herzog are the chairmen; 9News anchor Bob Kendrick emcees. Call 303-871-2735.
* Advocates for Children will honor former Denver Nugget Bill Hanzlik at the 11th Red Wagon Ball. Festivities, at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center, begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails, live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. Dessert, a live auction and the award presentation are next, according to chairwoman Amy Krza. Fox-31 News anchors Libby Weaver and Ron Zappolo emcee; Gary Corbett is the auctioneer. Call 303-695-1882.
* Fiesta Colorado, a dinner and awards ceremony benefiting the Denver Hispanic Chamber Education Foundation, also begins at 6 p.m. at the Colorado Convention Center. Sixteen college scholarships will be presented to area young people; in addition, Monique Lovato will receive the Latina Leadership Award while Excellence in Education honors will go to Leonard Baca and Open World Learning. Call 303-534-7783.

Denver Post Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com. Her column appears every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Study after study has shown that when it comes to charitable fundraisers, Denver has more per capita than any comparably sized city in the nation. Joanne Davidson has been covering them for The Denver Post since 1985, coming here from her native California where she'd spent the previous seven years as San Francisco bureau chief for U.S. News & World Report magazine.